Stolen by Night

THE OCCUPATION. THE RESISTANCE. THE WORLD AT WAR. On May 10, 1940, the Nazis begin their march across Europe, and within weeks, France has fallen. At first, Nicolette's world seems more or less the same despite the occupation. But as the months pass, the Third Reich tightens its hold on France and it becomes clear just what is at stake. Nicolette is drawn into a growing resistance movement, determined to do her part to fight back. It's a deadly secret she'll have to keep from everyone, including her family. Nicolette's own father works for local law enforcement, which is now under Nazi control, and who knows what might happen if anyone found out she joined the Resistance. But as Hitler's empire grows, no one can escape the horrors of war. Including Nicolette. One night, she vanishes without a trace, taken from the street by Nazi soldiers and declared an enemy of the state. Soon, Nicolette finds herself confronting the very heart of Hitler's plans, bearing witness not just to the atrocities, but also to the courage, bravery, and hope that can emerge in even the darkest times. And it is in these small but powerful moments that Nicolette realizes her greatest weapon against the Nazis: to live, so she can tell the world the truth of what happened. But can one girl survive what was designed to destroy so many? Steve Watkins is the author of the young adult novels On Blood Road, Juvie, What Comes After, Great Falls, as well as the middle-grade novels Down Sand Mountain, Sink or Swim, and the Ghosts of War series. A former professor of journalism, creative writing, and Vietnam War literature, Steve cofounded and helps a nonprofit yoga studio and works with an urban reforestation organization in his hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia.